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Get a list of installed software in C#

Gets a list of installed software and, if known, the software's install path.

Submitted By: aj32

Actions:

Rating:

Views: 8,444

Language: C#

Last Modified: May 31, 2008

Instructions: 1. Add 'Using Microsoft.Win32' at the top of your code.
2. Put the following code into a class.
3. See example on using the code.

Snippet

/// <summary>
/// Gets a list of installed software and, if known, the software's install path.
/// </summary>
/// <returns></returns>
private string Getinstalledsoftware()
{
//Declare the string to hold the list:
string Software = null;
//The registry key:
string SoftwareKey = @"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall";
using (RegistryKey rk = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(SoftwareKey))
{
//Let's go through the registry keys and get the info we need:
foreach (string skName in rk.GetSubKeyNames())
{
using (RegistryKey sk = rk.OpenSubKey(skName))
{
try
{
//If the key has value, continue, if not, skip it:
if (!(sk.GetValue("DisplayName") == null))
{
//Is the install location known?
if (sk.GetValue("InstallLocation") == null)
Software += sk.GetValue("DisplayName") + " - Install path not known\n"; //Nope, not here.
else
Software += sk.GetValue("DisplayName") + " - " + sk.GetValue("InstallLocation") + "\n"; //Yes, here it is...
}
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
//No, that exception is not getting away... :P
}
}
}
}
return Software;
}
//EXAMPLE USAGE:
private void get_software_list_button__Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
MessageBox.Show(Getinstalledsoftware());
}

Copy & Paste

/// <summary>
        /// Gets a list of installed software and, if known, the software's install path.
        /// </summary>
        /// <returns></returns>
        private string Getinstalledsoftware()
        {
            //Declare the string to hold the list:
            string Software = null;

//The registry key:
            string SoftwareKey = @"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall";
            using (RegistryKey rk = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(SoftwareKey))
            {
                //Let's go through the registry keys and get the info we need:
                foreach (string skName in rk.GetSubKeyNames())
                {
                    using (RegistryKey sk = rk.OpenSubKey(skName))
                    {
                        try
                        {
                            //If the key has value, continue, if not, skip it:
                            if (!(sk.GetValue("DisplayName") == null))
                            {
                                //Is the install location known?
                                if (sk.GetValue("InstallLocation") == null)
                                    Software += sk.GetValue("DisplayName") + " - Install path not known\n"; //Nope, not here.
                                else
                                    Software += sk.GetValue("DisplayName") + " - " + sk.GetValue("InstallLocation") + "\n"; //Yes, here it is...
                            }
                        }
                        catch (Exception ex)
                        {
                            //No, that exception is not getting away... :P
                        }
                    }
                }
            }

return Software;
        }

//EXAMPLE USAGE:
private void get_software_list_button__Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            MessageBox.Show(Getinstalledsoftware());
        }

Comments
smcherniss 2008-06-25 12:19:13
AJ32 - Great Code thank you for posting. Here is the same thing in VB Imports Microsoft.Win32 Namespace ApplicationPackageHunter Public Class ApplicationPackageHunter ' ' Gets a list of installed software and, if known, the software's install path. ' ' List of Applications (String) Public Function RetrieveInstalledSoftwareList() As String ' Declare the string to hold the list: Dim Software As String = String.Empty ' The registry key: Dim SoftwareKey As String = "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall" Using rk As RegistryKey = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(SoftwareKey) ' Let's go through the registry keys and get the info we need: Dim skName As String For Each skName In rk.GetSubKeyNames() Using sk As RegistryKey = rk.OpenSubKey(skName) Try ' If the key has value, continue, if not, skip it: If (Not (sk.GetValue("DisplayName") = String.Empty)) Then ' Is the install location known? If (sk.GetValue("InstallLocation") = String.Empty) Then Software += sk.GetValue("DisplayName") & _ " - Install path not known\n" ' Nope, not here. End If Else Software += sk.GetValue("DisplayName") & " - " & _ sk.GetValue("InstallLocation") + "\n" ' Yes, here it is... End If Catch ex As Exception ' No, that exception is not getting away... :P End Try End Using Next skName End Using Return Software End Function End Class End Namespace